Ok, after much debate (Thank you all again for the input!) I have actually decided to go with the Marantz PMD-660. This was after a phone conversation with Doug at Oade Brothers. He has had LOTS of hands-on experience with the unit. At the time I spoke with him was back-ordered on the MOD versions.

http://www.oade.com/digital_recorder...D-660MODS.html

I went with the Advanced mod ($709), which " removes the line input, the internal mics as well as the limiter and Automatic Level Control from the system".

Some of the things Doug told me, along with a sample audio clip (http://www.oade.com/Tapers_Section/m...est/no_mic.wav) really sold me on it.